Wear compensating device for washing machine cylinder doors



April 19, 1938. STRQBRIDGE 2,114,579

WEAR COMPENSATING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINE CYLINDEE DOORS Filed Nov.14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l I; m E

' INVENTOR Willidm Simbridye BY April 19, 1938. w. STROBRIDGE 2,114,579

WEAR COMPENSATING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINE CYLINDER DOORS Filed Nov.14, 1955 2 Sheets-Shet 2 I m/M 3 v Rm @fi %K% m A w W 6 v IN @N aPatented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES rarer WEAR. COMPENSATING DEVICE FORWASH- ING MACHINE CYLINDER DOORS ware Application November 14, 1935,Serial No. 49,670

2 Claims.

This invention relates to wear compensating devices for washing machinecylinder doors of the type illustrated in United States Patent No.1,984,931.

An object of the invention is to ensure the tight closing of the doorsof washing machine cylinders, both initially and after wear takes place,by providing simple, eflicient and durable means for accomplishing thispurpose.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will beexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fragment of a cylinder for a washingmachine showing a door hinge and latch assembly embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the assembly shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the stationary hinge members for thelower door, showing the lower end of one of the hinge straps for theupper door in interlocking engagement therewith, and

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views in the drawmgs.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a wooden washing machinecylinder of any usual or suitable construction having in the peripheryat least one dooropening provided with a large or main upper door 2 anda narrow lower door 3. At the lower edge of the door opening is a woodensill 4. In order that the door 3 shall be rigid, it preferably takes theform of a heavy stiff metal trough into each end of which is fitted ametal block 5 secured in place by bolts 6 or otherwise. The movablehinge leaves 1 for the lower door 3 are preferably cast integral withthe blocks 5. The stationary hinge leaves for the lower door areZ-shaped; each consisting of a central section 8 adapted to rest on adepressed seat 9 at the front and below the top of the sill; a lowersection or wing I0, adapted to rest against the front face of the silland against the periphery of the cylinder; and an upper secfor the hingeleaf sections 8 and II, the sill is notched to permit the uprightsection H to lie inwardly of the door when the latter is closed, and thesection 8 to underlie the closed door. At the upper end of eachstationary hinge leaf for the lower door is a lip l2 that projectsinwardly and rests upon the sill. These stationary hinge leaves aresecured in place by one or more bolts. In the arrangement shown, thereare two bolts for each hinge, a short bolt l3 passing through the lowersection and through a cylinder stave l4 adjacent to the sill, and a longbolt l5 that extends through the lower hinge leaf section and throughthe sill.

In order to hold the upper sections of the stationary hinge leavesfirmly in place, in the arrangement shown, there is riveted to the inneror rear face of each of the hinge leaf sections H or formed integrallytherewith a stiff metal tongue l6 that extends down a considerabledistance below the central hinge leaf section 8. Slots out down into thesill at the inner ends of the seats 9 receive the tongues l6 when thestationary hinge leaves are set in place. These slots are preferably soproportioned that the tongues will fit snugly within them. Each tongueis provided near its lower end with a bolt hole l-l so located that thecorresponding bolt 15 passes therethrough. Thus, after a stationaryhinge leaf has been placed in position and the two bolts have beenapplied, the upper section of the hinge leaf is tied down to the bolt l5and is therefore securely anchored to overcome any tendency that it mayhave to spring away from the sill behind it and thus open a crack orcrevice.

As is customary in this type of construction, the hinge leaves or straps18 on the upper or main door are continued past the free end or edge ofthat door so as to overlap the lower door sill when the upper door isclosed. In the present construction, the straps i8 are so placed as tocause them to engage with the outer sides or faces of the upper sectionsll of the stationary hinge leaves for the lower door. The stationaryhinge leaf sections H and the straps 58 are, further more, soproportioned and shaped that they become effectively interlocked whenthe doors are closed, to prevent relative movements circumferentially orlongitudinally of the cylinder. To this end, each strap I8 is providedat its free end, on its under or inner side, with a U-shaped rib or bead19. In the arrangement shown, this U- shaped rib or bead comprisesrelatively low ribs 2!, 2| at the long edges of the strap l8, and

a relatively high connecting cross rib or bead 22 following the loweredge. In the front face of each of the hinge leaf sections II is apocket or depression 20 adapted to receive the ribbed lower end of thecorresponding hinge leaf or strap I8. Projecting outwardly from theupper end of the inner or rear wall' of the pocket 20 is a ledge 23whose length is slightly less than the distance between the ribs 2 l, 2!on the strap,

l8. Therefore, when the upper door is swung down, the lower ends ofthestraps l8-enter the pockets 20, the ribs or beads 2|, 2lpassing theends of the ledges 23, and the rib or bead sections 22 underlying theledges 23. Fig. 5 illustrates the relation between the ledge 23. and theribs or beads 2| when the upper door is swung down, whereas Fig. 3 showsthe manner in which the ledge overlies the rib or bead 22.

The doors are locked in their closed positions, as heretofore, bycatches 24 on the lower door engaging with the body of the cylinder.Since the blocks 5 are properly located for the purpose, theyare madehollow so as to serve as casings or housings for. the movable elementsof the catches. The chambers in the blocks 5 open out through the outerends of the blocks to permit the passage ofthe slidingv bolt elements25'ofthe catches. Preferably these catches take into recesses beneaththecylinder bands 26 and suitable removable keeper plates 2'! arepreferably interposed between the bands and the catches.

Itis essential that the doors be tightly closed, since otherwise smallpieces of wash are likely to escape through or be caught in the gapsformed between loosely held. doors, or between such doors and the edgesof the door openings. The tightness of the doors dependsupon therelation of the catch and its keeper. If the keeper andcatch make tightcontact when the doors are swung shut and: are. at the limit of theirclosing movement, no troublesome gaps can: be formed. In order that thedoors may be held. tightly. closed initially and also after wear hastaken place, adjustable means is provided for insuring close contactbetween the catchesand their. keepers. By reference to Fig.3, this meanswill. be seen to comprise a hardened steel stud or bolt 28, mounted-for.longitudinaladjustment in a threadedbolt hole 29, formed in the uppersection I! of the stationary hinge member for the lower door. Thepositionofthe said bolt is such that whenthe upper door isswungclosed,its end bead 22 will come in contact with the outer endof the bolt.Initially, the bolt is set with its outerv end spaced just far enoughfrom the plane of the inner surface of the catch keeper 21' to preventmovement of the doors. If, after a period of service, the doors begin toshow looseness, the bolt may be backed out the small distance necessaryto compensate for the wear that has taken. place.

Preferably, it should be possible to make such adjustment withoutremoving the stationary hinge strap from the cylinder. This may beaccomplished by providing at the outer end of the bolt 28 a pair ofsmall holes 39 adapted to be engaged by any suitable key, whereby thebolt may be turned to a new position from the exterior of the cylinderwhen the upper and lower doors stand open. A set screw 3| is provided tohold the bolt 28 in any selected position. A seal strip 32'secured'tothe outer surfaces of the upper door hinge straps l8 andextending therebetween closes. the gap between the lower edge of theupper door'and the upper edge of the lower door. The latter door.ordinarily engages this seal strip and also the lower'ends of the hingestraps l8. Thus the upper door is firmly held in place by the lower doorwhen the latter is closed and the catch engaged behind its keeper.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and asmany changes might be made in the. embodiment above set forth, it is tobe understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shownin theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. Latching means for adoorhinged'at one edge of a door opening andhaving a hinge member comprisinga leaf secured to the door and extend.-

ing entirely across the opening, said latching means comprising a firstmember secured to the door opening in position to be overlapped by thefree end of said. hinge leaf, a second member hinged upon said' firstmember and adapted to be the door opening; in: position. to be.overlapped by the free end of said hinge leaf, a second member hingedupon saidfirst-member and adapted to be closed over said free end,latching meansfor holding said second member in closed position,

a hardened screw normally held immovable in said first member inpesitionto' engage with its outer end the inner surface of saidoverlapping hingele'af, and means for. changing" the position or'saidscrew to. compensate for wear.

WILLIAM STROBRIDGE.

